The Pentagon bypassed United States helicopter makers, choosing to spend more than $1 billion on dozens of Russian Mi-17 helicopters for the Afghanistan military. The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. It is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship.
In an effort to arm Afghanistan‘s security forces with new helicopters, the Pentagon bypassed American companies and turned instead to Moscow for dozens of Russian Mi-17 rotorcraft at a cost of more than $1 billion.
